Twelve Swansea University academics have been recognised for their excellence and achievement with their election as Fellows of The Learned Society of Wales.

The 2012 Election of new Fellows has strengthened the Society considerably, adding seventy-three Fellows to its existing 177 members, all of whom are prominent figures within their respective academic disciplines. The Society, which was launched in May 2010 aims to establish itself both as a recognised representative of the world of Welsh learning internationally and as a source of authoritative, scholarly and critical comment and advice on policy issues affecting Wales. Until then Wales has lacked a national academy, unlike Scotland which has benefited from the Royal Society of Edinburgh since 1783.

Sir John Cadagon FRS, the Society’s President, said:

“ We have elected a further very strong cohort of new Fellows, to add to the existing list of excellent Founding Fellows and Fellows. Over the coming years, our Fellowship will continue to grow by election judged by peer review. To be elected will continue to be a target for our young scholars.”

Professor John Tucker, the Society’s General Secretary, said: “Swansea University academics have played a leading role in establishing the Learned Society of Wales. Professor Wyn Thomas, FBA is Vice-President for the Arts, Humanities and Social Science, and Sir Roger Jones, the chair of our University Council, is Treasurer. Some 33 scholars, scientists, and engineers at Swansea University are Fellows, and many more Fellows have held posts with us in the past, or were educated by us. I have high expectations of the personal contribution Swansea Fellows will make to powering up the intellectual achievements and academic reputation of Wales.”

Swansea University Fellows elected in 2012

Professor David Blackaby FLSW

Professor of Economics, Swansea University

Professor Javier Bonet FLSW

Professor of Engineering, Head of the College of Engineering, Swansea University

Professor (Anthony) Gareth Brenton FLSW

Professor of Mass Spectrometry, Director of the Institute of Mass Spectrometry, College of Medicine, Swansea University

Professor of Marine Biology and Head of the Department of Biosciences, Swansea University

Professor Oubay Hassan MBE DSc(Eng) FICE FLSW

Head of the Civil and Computational Engineering Centre, School of Engineering, Swansea University

Professor (William) Jeremy Jones FRSC FLSW

Formerly: Professor and Head of the Department of Chemistry, University of Wales, Aberystwyth; Professor of Chemistry and Dean of the Faculty of Science, University of Wales Swansea

Professor Roland (Wynne) Lewis DSc FREng FICE FLSW

Emeritus Professor, College of Engineering, Swansea University

Professor Tavi Murray FLSW

Professor of Glaciology, School of the Environment and Society, Swansea University

Professor Andrew Pelter DSc FRIC FLSW

Emeritus Professor of Organic Chemistry, Swansea University

Professor Djordje Peric DSc FLSW

Civil and Computational Engineering Centre, College of Engineering, Swansea University

Professor Judith (Eleri) Phillips AcSS FLSW

Professor of Gerontology, and Director of the Research Institute for Applied Social Sciences, Swansea University

Notes to editors

Election to Fellowship of the Learned Society of Wales is via nomination by existing Fellows. It is open to men and women of all ages and from all ethnic groups:

who have a demonstrable record of excellence and achievement in any of the academic disciplines or who, being members of the professions, the arts, industry, commerce or public service, have made a distinguished contribution to the world of learning; and

who are resident in Wales, or who are persons of Welsh birth but are resident elsewhere, or who otherwise have a particular connection with Wales.